(Honolulu) — Beginning Monday, July 15, the Mānoa Falls Trail will undergo periodic closures for construction to improve the upper portion of the trail. This is to ensure public safety as heavy equipment will be operating on potentially unstable terrain. It is anticipated the trail will only be open every other week and on weekends.

This is phase three of a three-part trail improvement program initiated by the DLNR Na Ala Hele Trail and Access program back in 2006 with continuous funding support from Hawai‘i Tourism.

This final phase has three distinct parts. This includes fixing the staircase that leads to the waterfall viewing area. Improving the viewing area and widening the last two-tenths of a mile of the trail. This has been identified by the Honolulu Fire Department as a focal point of injury along the trail dating back to 2001.

Other improvements include trail hardening and run-off management to reduce soil erosion and slippery conditions. While improvements will mostly be done on the upper portion of the trail, lower portions will also get some maintenance and needed improvements.

Currently, the Mānoa Falls Trail sees an annual average of 200,000 hikers each year. Over the past two decades, this increase in activity has badly eroded the trail and created uneven footing.

“Mānoa Valley is consistently saturated with rain making the trail slippery and unsafe, and potentially providing a negative hiking experience because of muddy, unpleasant and oft times challenging conditions,” said Mike Millay, DLNR Na Ala Hele Trails & Access Program Manager.

Phase one included widening, hardening and developing rest stops along the lower part of the trail. In 2011, phase two of the project continued by pushing improvements further up the trail and by installing a trail head kiosk, front entry gate and trail-side interpretive signs.

This summer’s work will also include volunteer support through partnerships with KUPU Hawai‘i and the Hawai‘i State Department of Education.

The Hawai‘i Tourism funding was provided through its Aloha ‘Āina Program. The money comes from the Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT), which people pay when they stay in legal accommodations throughout Hawai‘i.

While the trail is closed the Na Ala Hele Program recommends using its official website to identify open trails.